Simisear Movesets & Competitive Sets

With Nasty Plot and the near perfect coverage Flamethrower and Focus Blast give, Simisear becomes a powerful setup wallbreaker. Salac Berry is chosen as the go-to item for giving a Speed boost after two uses of Substitute for a potential sweep, and this is possible thanks to Gluttony. The 4 EVs into HP are important in order to have Simisear's HP divisible by 4, which lets two Substitute uses or one Substitute use after switching into Stealth Rock leave Simisear at exactly 50% HP for Salac Berry activation. Life Orb is also a good option for even more power, being able to OHKO Audino at +2 with Focus Blast; the ability should be changed to Blaze in this case, as Gluttony loses its use. Salac Berry Simisear ideally activates its item after using Nasty Plot and setting up a Substitute in order to make a difficult-to-contest sweep. In order to make this happen, partners such as Zebstrika and Natu are key for their ability to bring in Simisear safely with Volt Switch or U-turn. Simisear also forces many switches, which give plenty of opportunities to set up Substitute and also rack up damage from entry hazards set up by partners like Rampardos and Maractus. Nasty Plot Simisear has an easier time getting around certain counters like Frillish that Choice Specs sets can struggle on but is easier to check with certain threats like Rapidash. In that sense, Nasty Plot Simisear loves faster sweepers like Zebstrika and Shell Smash Huntail that can both threaten those checks and make use of the holes it creates.

Flamethrower is the go-to STAB option that can 2HKO a surprising amount of offensive Pokemon, like Huntail, with the help of Choice Specs. Focus Blast is coverage for choice specially defensive walls such as Zweilous. Hidden Power Electric is for hitting Water-types, such as Frillish and Tentacool, for good damage. Overheat is the last option primarily because Simisear does not have much more meaningful coverage, and it works as a last-resort nuke, pulling off impressive feats such as always OHKOing Stoutland after Stealth Rock damage. Simisear can also use the same set with a Choice Scarf to become a formidable revenge killer that outspeeds all other common revenge killers, but the general ease of stopping Choice Scarf Simisear by common walls such as Tentacool, Audino, and Zweilous generally makes the Choice Specs variant more popular and effective, as Simisear becomes much harder to wall and naturally boasts a respectable Speed stat. Simisear doesn't have much in the way of bulk or defensive synergy, so Pokemon such as Klang and Jumpluff that can bring Simisear in safely via Volt Switch or U-turn are valuable partners. Simisear also loves entry hazards from partners such as Bronzor and Dwebble to help wear down walls. Simisear is also excellent for wearing down certain walls such as Stunfisk, Bronzor, and Vileplume, so teammates such as Zebstrika, Torterra, and Golduck appreciate its wallbreaking. Simisear also sometimes struggles to get past certain threats like Tentacool and Grumpig, so partners like Zebstrika and Shiftry can be excellent choices for offensive synergy. Simisear's weakness to Stealth Rock can also limit its longevity, so hazard control options like Tentacool and Natu can be helpful. Natu in particular can make for a good partner, as its slow U-turn is an excellent way to bring Simisear in safely.

Simisear's blistering fast Speed, wide movepool, and access to Nasty Plot make it a staple wallbreaker and sweeper in ZU. At +2, Flamethrower is a brutally powerful attack that OHKOes nearly every foe that does not resist Fire; Fire Blast is an alternative that has less PP and accuracy, but it turns some ranges into guaranteed OHKOs, like Vullaby at +2 when holding a Life Orb. The sheer power of +2 Life Orb-boosted Fire Blast can also reliably OHKO certain foes that resist Fire, like opposing Simisear, easing prediction in some scenarios. Hidden Power Dark targets Psychic- and Ghost-types that resist Fire, namely Grumpig, Lampent, and Frillish. After a Nasty Plot boost, stallbreaker Lampent and offensive Grumpig are OHKOed when Simisear is holding a Life Orb. Additionally, regardless of what Simisear holds, after boosting, all other Lampent sets are OHKOed and other Grumpig sets and Frillish are 2HKOed. Hidden Power Grass is an alternative, letting Simisear retain coverage against Frillish while also targeting other Water-types like Staryu. It's also Simisear's best option against Walrein if it forgoes Focus Blast, 2HKOing it at +2, and it is a perfectly accurate way to OHKO Graveler unboosted. Focus Blast is primarily for bulky Normal-types, with its unboosted non-Life Orb version 3HKOing specially defensive Clefairy and 2HKOing physically defensive Clefairy and Slaking. It also 3HKOes Vibrava and bulky variants of Shelgon, 2HKOes Walrein and offensive variants of Shelgon, and OHKOes Graveler. Simisear's choice of item is particularly important here, because when it's holding a Life Orb, specially defensive Clefairy, Vibrava, and offensive Shelgon variants are always OHKOed after a Nasty Plot boost, while bulky variants of Shelgon become a range to KO. While the loss of Focus Blast deprives Simisear of notable coverage, Substitute is an alternative. The guard against status and some revenge killers is always welcome, and Simisear takes advantage of Substitute notably well due to how easily it forces targets to switch out. While Life Orb is crucial for landing many KOs, Salac Berry is an alternative, letting Simisear act as a cleaner against weakened teams. It's particularly effective in this role, since very few Choice Scarf users can outspeed a Simisear at +1 Speed. Salac Berry should be used in conjunction with Substitute, as due to its frailty, Simisear needs a safe way to lower its HP. 4 HP EVs should also be used, so Simisear can reach pinch Berry range after two Substitutes instead of three. Gluttony is the only legal ability Simisear can use when running Nasty Plot, though it can help activate Simisear's Salac Berry earlier. While most teams can appreciate Simisear's sheer wallbreaking and sweeping prowess, it should traditionally be found on offense teams. Simisear is used for its ability to overwhelm traditional special walls thanks to its coverage and overwhelming power, while its exceptional Speed limits what can revenge kill it, making it fare well against other speedy offensive and defensive foes alike. On all team styles, Simisear struggles to switch in given its frailty, so pivots like Mienfoo and Persian can help bring it on the field safely. On offense teams, particularly hyper offense, traditional setup sweepers like Whiscash and Arbok are always welcome, as they can weaken each other's checks like Frillish, opening a path for their partner to sweep. These teams, especially if Simisear is intended to be used as a cleaner, always need some protection against priority users, notably the omnipresent Persian, so physically bulky partners that can take advantage of them such as Rock Polish Lairon are necessary. Entry hazards, namely Stealth Rock, are useful for helping Simisear wear down the Pokemon it falls just shy of OHKOing, like Frillish after Nasty Plot and Walrein unboosted with Life Orb. They are particularly important if Simisear chooses to forgo Life Orb or Fire Blast. Stallbreakers like Walrein and Grumpig can work well against passive walls that give Simisear trouble like Frillish. Dual screens support from Mr. Mime can help Simisear set up Nasty Plot more consistently. Some balance teams can also make use of Simisear, as the reliable defensive backbone and entry hazard support from partners like Clefairy and Solrock is always welcome, and it notably makes Simisear much less susceptible to revenge killers. In return, Simisear provides the offensive power its partners lack. On all team styles, but particularly more balanced ones where Simisear may have to switch in multiple times, Stealth Rock is a major problem. Offense teams, notably hyper offense, can make use of Taunt leads like Persian and Mr. Mime to deny Stealth Rock. More defensive teams can instead opt for a spinner like Staryu.

Simisear is an excellent special attacker that uses its wide movepool and high Speed to act as a threatening wallbreaker. Its choice of item dictates how opponents can play around it, because the ability to switch moves makes Life Orb harder to predict around, while Choice Specs is more powerful and does not cut into Simisear's longevity. Flamethrower is Simisear's primary STAB attack; Fire Blast is an alternative that exchanges accuracy and PP for power, letting it reliably OHKO certain foes Flamethrower cannot, such as offensive pivot Mienfoo and Persian when using Life Orb, or Raichu with Choice Specs. Overheat is used to hit higher damage ranges, maximizing Simisear's threat level, and it's able to reliably OHKO foes like Lairon and Mr. Mime after Stealth Rock with Life Orb. However, it sharply dropping Special Attack combined with the general difficulty in bringing Simisear onto the field necessitates a more spammable Fire-type option. Hidden Power Dark targets certain Ghost- and Psychic-types that resist or are immune to Fire, namely Frillish, Lampent, and Grumpig. Alternatively, Hidden Power Grass still targets Frillish while also threatening other Water-types like Staryu, and it's a perfectly accurate way to OHKO Graveler. Focus Blast targets Normal-types, notably 3HKOing Munchlax, 2HKOing Clefairy, and OHKOing Slaking. It has the added benefit of also targeting Rock- and Dragon-types, OHKOing Graveler and Lairon and 2HKOing Vibrava and Shelgon. It also 2HKOes Walrein. Blaze is used, as it's Simisear's only useful ability when not holding a Berry, and while difficult to activate, the potentially massive boost to Simisear's Fire-type STAB moves can secure some KOs it otherwise can't obtain, such as OHKOing Muk with Choice Specs Overheat. Timid is used over the damage boost of Modest in order to outspeed Leafeon and Raichu. Simisear best fits on offensive and balance teams looking for a potent wallbreaker that needs minimal support against common answers to special attackers, like specially defensive Clefairy and Meganium. Offensive threats such as Arbok, Persian, and Raichu appreciate their walls being removed, while defensive teammates like Meganium, Solrock, and Clefairy appreciate the offensive presence Simisear brings that they lack. Simisear's greatest flaw is that it's extremely frail, so it struggles to switch in. This problem can be alleviated by pivots like Mienfoo and Vullaby. Simisear is also easily revenge killed by Choice Scarf users like Kingler and Mienfoo, as well as a few naturally faster Pokemon like Persian and Emolga. The aforementioned walls aid Simisear by switching into these foes. Simisear's Stealth Rock weakness is another significant issue, severely cutting down the number of times it can switch in, especially if it's holding a Life Orb. On offense teams, Taunt users like Persian or Mr. Mime can try to stop Stealth Rocks from being set up; defensive teams can make use of Rapid Spin users like Staryu to remove them. Ironically, Simisear greatly appreciates Stealth Rocks being set up on the opposing team, as they help in wearing down and securing KO ranges against its checks. Thus, Simisear appreciates partners who can reliably set them up like Solrock and Lairon.

Holding a Choice Scarf, Simisear outspeeds every other viable Choice Scarf user besides Persian and common setup sweepers at +2 Speed like Lairon and Whiscash, a trait that makes it a solid revenge killer when combined with its high power and diverse movepool. Flamethrower serves as a spammable STAB move that threatens nearly every foe that doesn't resist Fire or is extremely specially bulky. Fire Blast is an alternative, trading accuracy and PP for higher damage ranges. The boost in power also allows Simisear to OHKO a few foes Flamethrower fails to like Choice Band Lairon and a chance to OHKO Emolga. Overheat is Simisear's most powerful attack, turning Fire Blast's ranges into guarantee OHKOs while also having a chance to OHKO certain foes like Persian and pivot Mienfoo. However, Overheat's Special Attack drop makes it not very spammable, leading to a more spammable Fire-type option being necessary. Hidden Power Grass's purpose is to 2HKO Whiscash, with the added benefit of OHKOing Graveler and threatening other Water-types, notably 2HKOing Staryu. Focus Blast targets Normal-types, 2HKOing physically defensive Clefairy and Slaking; it also OHKOes all Lairon variants and 2HKOes Walrein. Blaze is Simisear's only useful ability when it isn't holding a berry, and while difficult to activate due to Simisear's frailty, the boost to its Fire-type STAB moves can allow it to perform feats like always OHKOing Persian with Flamethrower and Raichu and Arbok with Fire Blast. Simisear best fits on offense and balance teams looking for speed control. Simisear's frailty and inability to switch moves necessitates a strong defensive backbone, a role that can be fulfilled by partners like Solrock, Meganium, Staryu, and Clefairy. Physical walls and tanks are especially important, as Simisear is very vulnerable to priority, notably Persian's Fake Out, but also moves like Arbok's Sucker Punch and Pikachu's Extreme Speed. Simisear lacks the power to reliably break through certain walls and tanks like Frillish and specially defensive Clefairy. Physical wallbreakers like Lairon and Muk and stallbreakers like Grumpig and Walrein work well as checks to them. Given that many of Simisear's checks rely on Eviolite for their bulk or Leftovers for recovery, Knock Off users like Mienfoo and Persian can cripple its checks and make them more susceptible to being worn down or broken through. Entry hazard support, primarily Stealth Rock from setters like Solrock and Lairon, works excellently in wearing down all of Simisear's offensive and defensive checks barring Clefairy. If its checks are removed and the opposing team is sufficiently weakened, Simisear can sometimes be used as late-game cleaner. Simisear's weakness to Stealth Rock hurts its longevity; on offensive teams, a speedy Taunt user like Persian can try to stop them from being set, while slower teams can use spinners like Staryu to remove them.